The Summit Beyond Our Galaxy - An Apple Loving Individual space opera

Chapter 2 - At The Baby Shower

Chapter 2 – At The Baby Shower

Friday, May 3, 2176
4:38 PM
Davis Residence

Rudy Davis worked at the same power production facility as Jerry. Despite being four older than him, Jerry was good friends with Rudy and they often backed one another up, when it came to changing work shifts. Rudy had been living in Kanzen City for six years, two years longer than Jerry and had been married to Laura for three years already. Laura was expecting their first child in June. Jerry arrived at the baby shower, which had not started yet. The event was expected to begin at 5:00 PM, however Jerry had completed all his tasks and errands for the day and was growing tired and bored of just sitting around at home. Him and Rudy were having a grand time chatting.

A question came up to Rudy's mind. "Jerry, while this is really not my business, do you ever plan to find love again?" asked Rudy. "I know life had been hard for you since Rachel left you, but the past should stay where it is." Jerry sighed and smiled a little. "You're a good man, Rudy!" he said. "Life has been full of crap and yes, I've been yearning to find another good girl." He then sipped his drink a little. "But, the truth is I've already been hurt once and for that reason, I don't know if I can trust anyone of the opposite gender ever again." He then looked at Rudy and smiled. "As for you, you made the right choice!" said Jerry. "You and Laura are perfect for one another!" "Ha, yeah!" said Rudy. "She kicks my ass at those holo-games every time!" A few minutes later, Laura came in the room. "Party's about to start boys!" said Laura. "Jerry, can I get you something else?" "No, thanks!" said Jerry. "I'll just wait till the main course. Let's all have fun!" The rest of the guests arrived, and the party was on in full swing.

It was a very eventful baby shower indeed, and Rudy played some soft ambient music on his holo-phone, which echoed throughout the house. Everyone had their food and drinks and sat relaxed as the music touched their ears. Jerry took out his holo-phone to check his bank account for a minute. His weekly pay did arrive in the account on Thursday, and he was making sure it was there. Then he put away his device and went to continue his conversation with Rudy. "Well, I just checked my balance recently, and I got my pay yesterday." Jerry said. "Oh, shit!" said Rudy. "Thanks for reminding me!" Rudy then quickly checked his balance as well and smiled seeing the money in his account. "You know man, I'm glad we're living in a time, where virtually no one suffers from poverty!" said Rudy. "And though it seems we get paid a lot, at least thankfully we can make comfortable livings." "Hell, yeah!" said Jerry. "On top of that, we can have up to two months off in a year, if we wanted it on salary! But, making 21 cloud jewels an hour, for just 30 hours a week is amazing!"

Of course, for a time period, where people such as Jerry and Rudy could get food, water, electricity, clothing, Internet and many other services for very low costs, paying only what would be equivalent to six cents per month for electricity and thirteen cents per month for Internet services, they could take up to two months off in a year. While most jobs were automated then, higher level corporate and professional level jobs still continued to exist, where it was mandatory to take at least two months of in a year. Also, labor laws in those days did not allow man to work more than sixteen hours a week. However, Jerry's line of work and other areas such as the medical field, information technology, and power production still required human presence to be there with each person working between twenty-four to maximum thirty-two hours a week and never beyond that.

Also, payment was received in a new, universal currency at the time. It was a digital, Internet-based currency that replaced all traditional currency all over the galaxy by the 2130s, known as cloud jewels, the term being derived from cloud computing. A single cloud jewel was equivalent to about $3.78 and was heavily encrypted along with higher levels of cybersecurity. So, for Jerry and Rudy, who were paid twenty cloud jewels an hour for thirty hours a week, they would be making thirty-two thousand and seven hundred and sixty cloud jewels in a whole year (which in layman terms would mean they make equivalent to $123,833 a year).

Jerry enjoyed the rest of the evening and then prepared to leave, as everyone decided it was getting late and time to go home. "Well, Rudy. I sure had a fun night with y'all, and congratulations on your first newborn." Jerry said. "When I come back from Phobos, I pray life will give me a more positive turn of events." Rudy then shook his hand. "Alright man, again thanks for coming!" he said. "Don't worry, good things always happen before you even know it!" Then Jerry left Rudy's house.

He entered his car, started it and began to fly home. The vehicle flew solely in autonomous mode, and only relied on user input in the GPS. Jerry then summoned Priya. Priya appeared, wearing a traditional red lehenga (traditional dress worn by local women from India) and henna on her hands. Jerry noticed this. "What's the occasion, Priya?" said Jerry, curious to understand why Priya was dressed as such. "You probably are unaware, Jerry. Tomorrow, marks the 103rd birthday of my creator Vijay Verma, computer scientist born in 2073 in New Delhi, India and died in London, UK in 2160, at the age of 87." Priya explained. "He designed me to look like his wife, whose name ironically also was Priya. He was an amazing person, also one of India's wealthiest people at the time."

Jerry was undoubtedly impressed with that information. "I didn't know a man would be that faithful and loving to his wife, even the point that he'd design his own creation to be modeled after her!" said Jerry. "But, I'm happy me and you are very close even today." He smiled at Priya, who also smiled back. "Thank you, sir!" said Priya. "I know you've been feeling lonesome, but surely you'll find the woman of your dreams and soon!" "Thank you!" said Jerry. "Surely, she'll come sooner one day!" He took a deep breath and then sighed, he only hoped for the best and the best only.

He arrived home and it was already nine o'clock at night when he did. He then instructed Priya to have his personal robots clean up the living room. He then looked at the city skyline one last time on the wall holo-screen before calling lights out. Kanzen City looked even more beautiful when night fell, and Jerry was happy to see the beauty of the city skyline, along with the many flying vehicles and multiple autonomous drones floating within the dome and also the few dozen drones flying outside the dome. "Priya, turn off the lights!" said Jerry. "Getting ready for bed." Priya then turned off the lights and enabled the glowing dim LED lights, to light up the apartment in the dark. The lights served as a method to light up the place, should any homeowner get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, or other reasons.